Susan Werner

Blessed with a great voice and great guitar and piano chops, the multi-talented Susan Werner put it all together and was on the cusp of success with ever-larger U.S., Canadian and European audiences. Her major-label debut, Last of the Good Straight Girls (1995), on Private Music, was being eaten up by adult alternative album radio stations around the U.S. But two years later, her record company was unceremoniously merged into Windham Hill, another subsidiary of BMG, in early 1997, sending her release out of print.

Werner grew up near Manchester, Iowa and made her first public performance at age five, playing guitar and singing in her church. At 11, she began playing piano. In high school, she played saxophone in jazz combos and sang in drama productions. Werner attended college at the University of Iowa, where she earned a degree in voice. She continued her studies at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she also studied opera. After she decided to end her budding opera career, Werner became inspired after seeing Texas folk singer Nanci Griffith. She was playing with a jazz trio when she began taking her guitar around to coffeehouses on the folk circuit in Philadelphia, New Jersey and New York City.

She recorded and self-released her first album, Midwestern Saturday Night, in 1993, and began to build a promising career as a contemporary folk singer. Her eclectic and offbeat set of influences made her a refreshing face in a sea of singer-songwriters on the Philadelphia coffeehouse circuit. Werner cites as influences people like Griffith, but also Jacques Brel, Thelonius Monk, Joni Mitchell, Sting and jazz diva Shirley Horn. After finding a manager in Philadelphia, Werner recorded a second album, 1994's Live at the Tin Angel. That album helped bring her to the attention of executives at Private Music/BMG.

I saw Susan at a Sanctuary Concert (Chatham NJ) the other night, and she was fabulous as ever. She's ventured into collaborative performances. She and David Wilcox mostly alternated solos, with excellent assists from a woman percussionist/harmonica player (whose name I never did get, darn). The interplay and banter between them was lots of fun.

I love Susan Werner! I was on assignment in germantown, MD for Hughes Network Systems. During my stay, I visited Baltimore, MD. At a small venue downtown was this "singer" that I never heard of. I was gonna pass by the venue when her manager told me that if I came in and didn't enjoy the show.. she would refund me my $15.00 cover. Suffice to say that I not only stayed... I bought 2 of her CD's that day.. and listen to them often!

Susan, we all know you got messed with in management and bad breaks... but I too believe you are one of the absolute best. That is all you get for being the best. Recall they nailed one of the other bests to a tree for being the best. Why expect anything better? Get a new review. I, too, was at the Iron Horse listening to you sing "Born a little late..." switching guitars every song and then blowing everyone away with your piano. oh wow

Susan Werner is awesome. Still remember hearing her for the first time, singing "Born a Little Late" ca. 1992. The review of her career is fine as far as it goes but REALLY needs updating: she's done some amazing stuff since 1998!

6 years ago

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lfish81

Talent is an underestimated word when it comes to describing Susan Werner. Susan's thoughtful lyrics and comedic wisdom makes her stand apart from others. A true artist.